Chapter 21
Gracie
I’d never experienced a city at night, at least not one like this. Ironsun had a controlled and polished air that was different from this chaotic beauty. From the time we left Alpha Kaliyah’s house, I’d been captured by the atmosphere and sights of the city, the streets still alive at this hour.
While they hadn’t called it a date, that was exactly what tonight felt like. And wrapped in a sweater dress, boots, and a coat, I felt like someone who deserved to be here, walking these streets with her mates.
“There are so many people,” I said as we neared what appeared to be an open-air market. I could see the tops of the stalls from here, but the heavy crowds blocked sight of everything else.
“It’s called a night market,” Thornar said. “You’re going to love it, little flame.”
His enthusiasm enthralled me, and while Ravik kept to my side protectively, none of my men seemed on edge—each of us looking around as we went down three stone stairs into the market center.
Wow. I was caught off guard by the way my senses—especially now that they were enhanced by my wolf —perked to life.
Colorful stalls and flashy outfits. Two different types of music playing upbeat tunes from opposite ends of the marketplace. The scent of sugar and something warmer.
I tightened my hand in Ravik’s, grounding myself while feeling extremely eager to explore.
The sheer number of options and directions had my head spinning, and I was thankful when Thornar stole me from Ravik and led me toward a series of stalls. Ravik and Basir were close behind, falling into step and talking about something I couldn’t quite hear.
“Looking for anything specific?” I asked Thornar as we approached the first stall, filled to the brim with candied citrus treats and beautifully crafted chocolates. The five tables following that stall also had treats, and I felt almost overwhelmed by the options.
“Something for us to snack on later,” Thornar mused, kissing my temple. “I hate staying at other people’s houses. I never feel right going to grab something from the kitchen.”
“I could see that, especially if you wake up in the middle of the night wanting something sweet.”
A loud clang drew both of our attention to where massive copper pots were lifting into the air, the shopkeeper tipping them to pour molten sugar onto a wide table. Thornar leaned close, his lips brushing my ear.
“Then again, I have other ideas of what to eat if I want something sweet at night.”
My cheeks went bright red as I smiled up at him. Thornar chuckled at my reaction, and when Basir appeared to lead me toward the copper pots, I looked back at the man. He offered me a wink that left me feeling like I was on cloud nine.
“What are they making?” I asked, leaning into Basir.
“Candy, I think.” We watched them stretch the sugar and color it, and I was so captured by it that I didn’t realize I was leaning over the table until I almost knocked over a jar. I straightened it in my hand before becoming more curious and picked it up.
It was a small glass jar with a cork, tiny suns decorating the glass, filled with hard candies in amber and gold. A woman spoke up from behind the table. “Those are made from honey, harvested from the farms right outside the city—they’re delicious.”
I bet they were. I offered her a bright smile, thinking of how much Thornar would love them, before it hit me: I couldn’t buy them for him. I had no money.
I had no idea how it hadn’t occurred to me before, but I literally had no way to buy anything. My brow furrowed as I began walking down the table.
“Glow?” Basir prompted.
“Do I need a job?”
My question brought Basir to a full stop as the other two caught up, offering him a confused look. I was confused too, at their reactions. Why were they confused? Had I asked something weird?
“A job?” Basir rumbled.
“Yeah.” I looked around. “I just realized I can’t buy anything. I don’t have money.”
Ravik arched his brow. “Gracie, you have access to whatever money you could possibly need.”
I blinked and looked down at the ground, frowning. “Okay…but I feel like I need my own money. Because that’s yours, right?”
Thornar, who had been silent so far, let out an amused hum. “Good luck with this one, little flame. I would say this conversation is better left for later.”
“Why—oh!” I laughed as he turned me under his arm like we were dancing, but I could tell that my question had bothered, or maybe concerned, Ravik and Basir.
“This one looks interesting,” Thornar said, leading me to another stall.
Thornar was a master of distraction because interesting was an understatement. The stall was surrounded by a brisk, almost unnatural air, and the clean metallic taste told me they were working with stone and metal. I brushed away mineral dust floating in the air as we found our way to the table.
Carved animals.
Except that didn’t do the stall justice.
Each small crafted creature was a piece of art.
I crouched down to look at them, staring at each detailed face, as Thornar picked them up and commented on how heavy they were.
He even went so far as to start asking the stall owner questions about the process to make them.
But it wasn’t until I reached the end of the table that something truly caught my eye.
Basir. Except it wasn’t really him. A black wolf carved from obsidian, perfect down to the etched fur. I picked it up, holding it at eye level with a smile.
“What’s that?” Thornar asked. Over his shoulder I saw the other two walking toward us, carrying a bag and seeming far more relaxed.
“Basir.” I cracked a smile as Thornar looked over the figurine.
“That is extremely impressive,” he admitted, then winked. “Don’t tell Basir you think that looks like him though—can’t let the bastard get an ego.”
I shook my head, smiling as I set it down. An ego? Basir? Literally could never happen.
The next few stalls were much the same, switching between stonework and leather—even some armor—though most of it didn’t stand out to me.
I did stop to look over a thick leather bracelet with dark stitching in a pattern running the full length.
It was simple, just a knot closure, but I had the odd urge to have Ravik try it on.
The only thing stopping me was the way he hovered a few feet away, as if trying to give me space to look around. I would have preferred all of my mates as close as possible, but maybe they felt like they had to stay on watch.
“What are those?” My breath caught as we came to a stop in front of a simple but beautiful stand decorated in what could only be described as tiny masterpieces. The scent of greenery and flowers wrapped around me, and a woman along with a young girl stood behind the table.
“These?” The girl asked, her voice confident. “They’re flowers!”
Except they were so much more than that.
I approached, awestruck, as I examined the pendants on thin gold chains hanging over the table. Inside each one, suspended and preserved in clear resin, was a stunning blossom.
I picked up the one with a tiny pink mum and felt something shift in my chest. Pressing flowers made me feel as though I could preserve part of nature’s beauty—something I’d lacked for so long—but this?
It was so special. No matter where I was, I would always have a piece of something so incredibly alive. Something that could survive the cold, desolate territory of the Cold Moon Pack.
“Those are some of our favorites to make,” the woman said. “We make at least a dozen every month.”
“My friends and I trade them at school,” the girl added.
“You should get it, lux mea.”
I closed my hand around the necklace. “You think?”
A nod and a low rumble came from his chest as he looked toward the woman. “How much?”
“Only ten—oh, this is way too much.” The woman’s voice was filled with shock, clutching the money my mate had handed her. Ravik offered her a small shake of his head, then looked back down at me. “Happy?”
“Yes,” I whispered, but for so many more reasons than just the necklace.
After thanking the woman and her daughter, the four of us made our way to a nearby restaurant, my gaze dropping to the necklace at my throat. All of my mates had taken a moment to admire it, and I could tell they loved it nearly as much as I did.
Maybe not quite as much. But close.
“I bet we could learn how to make those,” Thornar mused. I wasn’t sure I was that talented, but I wouldn’t mind giving it a try.
Once we ordered food, I noticed Ravik had placed three bags on the table. I offered him a questioning look. “Did you find something you liked?”
“I found something you liked,” he explained and unpacked the bags—to reveal the three items I had spent the most time looking at. My cheeks flushed pink as I looked each one over then looked up at the three of them.
“I do like them…but I was actually picking them out for you, which is why I brought up the job thing,” I said, placing them in front of each of my mates.
Thornar broke out in a laugh that had me softening as he reached across to grab my hand and kiss the top of it. “Thanks, little flame. These look delicious.” He didn’t hesitate to open the container of sweets immediately.
“I know it’s a bracelet, so I’m not sure you want to wear it but…” I hesitated as Ravik inspected the leather, but he shook his head and held out his wrist.
I wrapped the bracelet around his wrist, thrilled that it looked so good on him—not to mention that something about having my mark on him was so right.
“I love it, Gracie.”
Ravik’s words brought a big smile to my face as I looked over to Basir. His gaze was on me, but the wolf was already secure in his hand, his thumb smoothing slowly over it.
“Do you like it?” I asked.
Basir’s bond with me warmed with what felt like so much overwhelming…love? Was that possible? He offered a single nod before pulling my chair so I was tucked right against him, his nose buried in my hair.
“Thank you, glow.”